Introduction
The EuroLeague clash between Virtus Segafredo Bologna and Panathinaikos B.C. on January 3 2025 at O.A.K.A. Olympic Indoor Hall in Athens was a thrilling display of elite European basketball. Panathinaikos dominated with a 111-90 victory showcasing their offensive firepower and defensive intensity. This breakdown of the player stats key performances and game dynamics for the Virtus Bologna vs. Panathinaikos B.C. match aiming to be the go to resource for fans searching for comprehensive insights. Drawing from sources like Sofascore Basketballstats247 and RealGM.
Table of Contents
Game Overview
The January 3, 2025, matchup was part of the 2024-25 EuroLeague regular season, hosted at Panathinaikos’ home court. Panathinaikos, riding a strong season with players like Kendrick Nunn and Kostas Sloukas, overwhelmed Virtus Bologna, who struggled defensively despite contributions from Tornike Shengelia and Marco Belinelli. The final score of 111-90 reflected Panathinaikos’ dominance, as they led by as many as 25 points in the third quarter. The game, broadcast live with real-time stats on Sofascore, highlighted Panathinaikos’ superior shooting and rebounding (Sofascore).
Key Player Stats: Panathinaikos B.C.
Panathinaikos’ roster, bolstered by stars like Mathias Lessort and Sloukas, delivered a balanced attack. Here are the standout performances:
- Kendrick Nunn (G): Nunn led with 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-7 three-pointers, adding 5 assists and 2 steals. His 20.8 points per game average and 1.0 steals underscored his role as a primary scorer and playmaker, torching Virtus’ perimeter defense (RealGM).
- Mathias Lessort (C): Lessort was a force in the paint, scoring 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, grabbing 9 rebounds, and blocking 2 shots. His 7.1 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game made him a defensive anchor, limiting Virtus’ interior scoring (RealGM).
- Kostas Sloukas (G): Sloukas orchestrated the offense with 12 points and 7 assists, shooting 3-of-5 from three. His 4.7 assists per game and leadership were pivotal in maintaining Panathinaikos’ tempo, especially during a 15-4 third-quarter run (thematchstats.com).
Panathinaikos shot 54% from the field (40/74) and 44% from three (12/27), with 28 assists on 40 made field goals. They secured 38 rebounds (10 offensive) and forced 14 Virtus turnovers, converting them into 22 points. Their 111 points were a season-high against Virtus (Basketballstats247).
Key Player Stats: Virtus Segafredo Bologna
Virtus Bologna, despite the loss, saw notable efforts from their key players, though they couldn’t match Panathinaikos’ intensity:
- Tornike Shengelia (F): Shengelia led Virtus with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting, adding 7 rebounds and 3 assists. His high performance index rating (PIR) reflected his all-around impact, but he couldn’t counter Panathinaikos’ paint dominance (thematchstats.com).
- Marco Belinelli (G): Belinelli scored 16 points, hitting 4-of-8 three-pointers, with 2 assists. His scoring kept Virtus competitive early, but Panathinaikos’ defense limited his second-half impact (Sofascore).
- Alessandro Pajola (G): Pajola contributed 8 points, 5 defensive rebounds, and 3 steals, showcasing his hustle. His defensive work disrupted Panathinaikos’ guards, but Virtus’ overall defensive lapses overshadowed his efforts (thematchstats.com).
Virtus shot 46% from the field (33/72) and 36% from three (10/28), with 20 assists. They grabbed 32 rebounds but allowed 16 offensive rebounds to Panathinaikos, leading to 18 second-chance points. Their 14 turnovers and 90 points allowed highlighted defensive struggles (Basketballstats247).
Game Dynamics and Turning Points
Panathinaikos set the tone early, leading 30-22 after the first quarter behind Nunn’s 10 points and Lessort’s 6 rebounds. Virtus responded in the second, with Shengelia and Belinelli combining for 18 points, cutting the deficit to 56-48 at halftime. However, Panathinaikos’ third-quarter surge, sparked by a 15-4 run fueled by Sloukas’ playmaking and Nunn’s three-pointers, pushed the lead to 85-60. A key moment was Lessort’s block on Ante Žižić, followed by a fast-break dunk, energizing the O.A.K.A. crowd (Sofascore).
Virtus mounted a brief fourth-quarter rally, with Pajola’s steals leading to transition points, but Panathinaikos’ 75% free-throw shooting (19/25) and Jerian Grant’s 5 assists off the bench sealed the 111-90 win. Panathinaikos’ 48 paint points and 22 points off turnovers were decisive, while Virtus’ 16 missed shots in the paint underscored their inefficiency (Basketballstats247).
Statistical Comparison
| Category | Panathinaikos | Virtus Bologna |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 111 | 90 |
| Field Goal % | 54% (40/74) | 46% (33/72) |
| Three-Point % | 44% (12/27) | 36% (10/28) |
| Free-Throw % | 75% (19/25) | 70% (14/20) |
| Rebounds | 38 (10 off.) | 32 (8 off.) |
| Assists | 28 | 20 |
| Turnovers | 8 | 14 |
| Steals | 7 | 6 |
| Blocks | 4 | 2 |
Panathinaikos’ superior shooting, rebounding, and ball security, plus their ability to exploit turnovers, drove the 21-point victory (Sofascore).
Impact and Context
The win bolstered Panathinaikos’ EuroLeague standing, improving their record to 10-4 and reinforcing their playoff contender status. Their historical edge over Virtus (5 wins in 6 games since 2021, averaging 86.2 points) was evident, with the 111-90 rout marking their largest margin against Bologna (AiScore). Virtus fell to 6-8, highlighting defensive inconsistencies despite Shengelia’s leadership. Social media buzz on X praised Nunn’s scoring, with posts like “Kendrick Nunn is unstoppable at O.A.K.A.!” (X post).
The game underscored Panathinaikos’ dominance in the “Derby of the Eternal Enemies” era, building on their seven EuroLeague titles and 40 Greek Basket League championships (Wikipedia). Virtus, a historic Italian club, struggled to match Panathinaikos’ intensity, raising questions about their EuroLeague playoff hopes (Sofascore).
Conclusion
The Virtus Bologna vs. Panathinaikos B.C. EuroLeague match on January 3 2025 was a masterclass by Panathinaikos who leveraged Kendrick Nunns 24 points Mathias Lessorts 9 rebounds and Kostas Sloukas 7 assists to secure a 111-90 victory. Virtus Bolognas Tornike Shengelia (20 points) and Alessandro Pajolas defensive hustle werent enough to counter Panathinaikos 54% shooting and 28 assists. Key moments like the third-quarter 15-4 run and Lessorts blocks defined the rout. Fans searching for Virtus Bologna vs. Panathinaikos B.C. match player stats will find this detailed analysis of stats and performances essential for understanding this EuroLeague showdown. Panathinaikos win cements their status as a European powerhouse while Virtus must regroup to stay in playoff contention.